Quick Bites | It’s all about earnings

For a lot of people, movements in stock prices are mysterious and unexplained. But the truth is out there – it’s all (or mostly) about earnings. Apart from the noise of day-to-day movements, most stock prices can be explained by the underlying company’s earnings, expectations for earnings, and uncertainty about those expectations for earnings. Over time, there is a tight statistical relationship between earnings and stock prices, as shown in the chart below which relates stock prices to earnings in the US since 1871.

Source: Fidelity

 

Stock prices represent the perceived value of a company, while company earnings reflect its profitability. The connection between these two variables is intricate and can diverge in the short term, but are unlikely to diverge much over the long term.

When a company’s earnings increase, it suggests that the company is generating higher profits. This positive financial performance leads to increased investor confidence and optimism about the company’s prospects. As a result, the company’s stock tends to rise. Investors are willing to pay more for a stock if they anticipate higher earnings and potential dividend payouts.

However, the relationship between stock prices and company earnings is not always straightforward. Stock markets are influenced by many factors, including macroeconomic conditions, investor sentiment, industry trends, geopolitical events, and monetary policy. These factors can introduce volatility and cause stock prices to deviate from the company’s earnings performance in the short term.

Stock markets are forward-looking and anticipate future earnings rather than solely focusing on current earnings. Investors consider the company’s growth prospects, competitive advantage, management effectiveness, and other factors to determine the stock’s value. As a result, stock prices usually reflect investors’ expectations of future earnings rather than just the present earnings.

Overall, while company earnings play a crucial role in influencing stock prices, the relationship between the two is complex and subject to various external factors. Investors and analysts continuously evaluate the interplay between earnings and stock prices to make informed investment decisions and assess the value of a company in the financial markets.

 

 

Disclaimer: Clime Asset Management Pty Limited | AFSL 221146 | ABN 72 098 420 770.  The information provided in this post is intended for general use only. The information presented does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation and advisory needs of any particular person, nor does the information provided constitute investment advice. Under no circumstances should investments be based solely on the information contained therein. Please consider the relevant disclosure document/s before investing in one of our products. Investment in securities and other financial products involves risk. An investment in a financial product may have the potential for capital growth and income but may also carry the risk that the total return on the investment may be less than the amount contributed directly by the investor. Investors risk losing some or all of their capital invested. Past performance of financial products is not a reliable indicator of future performance or returns.